Privacy Policy

How We Collect, Use & Protect Your Information

Effective Date: 18 April 2025

Version: 1.0

Our Commitment to Privacy

Your Privacy Matters. Dog Trainer Index Limited is committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about how we use it. This Privacy Policy explains your rights and our obligations under the Privacy Act 2020 (New Zealand).

Dog Trainer Index Limited (‘Dog Trainer Index’, ‘we’, ‘us’, or ‘our’) is committed to protecting the privacy of individuals who use our platform. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use, and disclose personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and its Information Privacy Principles (IPPs).

By using our Platform or submitting your information to us, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

Who We Are

Dog Trainer Index is a New Zealand-based lead generation and marketing platform connecting prospective clients with dog service providers (trainers, walkers, groomers, and daycares). We operate via www.dogtrainerindex.co.nz and www.dogtrainerindex.com.

As an agency collecting personal information from New Zealand individuals, we are subject to the Privacy Act 2020 and are committed to upholding its Information Privacy Principles.

Our Privacy Officer can be contacted at: privacy@dogtrainerindex.co.nz

What Information We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide to Us

When you submit an enquiry or register your interest through the Platform, we may collect:

• Personal identifiers: your full name;
• Contact details: email address, phone number, and residential address or suburb;
• Dog information: your dog’s name, breed, age, and general behavioural or health notes; and
• Service interests: the type of dog services you are interested in, including whether those relate to specific conditions (such as anxiety, incontinence, or other behavioural issues).

3.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you use the Platform, we may automatically collect:

• Technical information such as your IP address, browser type, and device information;
• Usage data such as pages visited and time spent on the Platform; and
• Cookie data as described in our Cookie Policy.

3.3 A Note on Sensitive Information

Information about your dog’s health-related interests (e.g., anxiety, incontinence) may indirectly reflect matters you consider sensitive. While this information relates to your dog rather than you personally, we treat it with additional care and will only use it to match you with appropriate Service Providers and to send you relevant content where you have consented.

Why We Collect Your Information (IPP 1 — Purpose of Collection)

We collect personal information for the following lawful purposes, each of which is necessary for our functions:

• Lead generation: to pass your enquiry details to one or more Service Providers who may be able to assist you;
• Marketing and communications: to send you relevant content, offers, and promotional material (where you have consented) on behalf of Dog Trainer Index and participating Service Providers;
• Platform operation: to operate, maintain, and improve the Platform and our services;
• Legal compliance: to comply with applicable New Zealand laws and regulations; and
• Advertising: to deliver relevant advertising content and measure its effectiveness.

We will not collect more information than is necessary for these purposes.

How We Collect Your Information (IPP 2 — Source of Collection)

Wherever practicable, we collect personal information directly from you when you:

• Complete and submit an enquiry form on the Platform;
• Register your interest in our services; or
• Contact us by email or through the Platform.

In some circumstances we may collect information from third parties (such as analytics providers or advertising partners), but only where this is permitted under the Privacy Act 2020.

Transparency at the Point of Collection (IPP 3)

At the time we collect your personal information, we will take reasonable steps to ensure you are aware of:

• The fact that we are collecting your information;
• The purposes for which it is being collected;
• That your information will be shared with Service Providers;
• That we may use your information to send you Marketing Communications (where you consent);
• The name and contact details of Dog Trainer Index as the agency collecting and holding the information;
• That providing your information is voluntary, and the consequences (if any) of not providing it; and
• Your rights to access and correct your information.

This information is provided in this Privacy Policy, in our Terms and Conditions, and in the notices presented to you at the point of collecting your information.

How We Use Your Information (IPP 10 — Limits on Use)

We will only use your personal information:

• For the purposes for which it was collected (as set out above);
• For a directly related purpose that you would reasonably expect; or
• For another purpose where you have given your explicit consent.

We will not use your information for unrelated purposes without first notifying you and obtaining your consent where required.

Disclosure of Your Information (IPP 11)

8.1 Service Providers

When you submit an enquiry, we will share your Lead information (name, contact details, suburb, and dog details) with one or more Service Providers who are relevant to your enquiry. You will be informed of this at the point of collection. By submitting your enquiry, you consent to this disclosure.

After your information is shared with a Service Provider, that Service Provider becomes an independent data holder and their own privacy practices apply. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any Service Provider that contacts you.

8.2 Marketing and Advertising Partners

Where you have consented to receive Marketing Communications, we may disclose your contact details to third-party email marketing service providers who assist us in delivering those communications. These providers are engaged by us as processors and are required to maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable privacy laws.

We may also work with advertisers who pay for placement in our marketing communications. We do not provide your personal details to these advertisers directly; they pay for placement in our communications which we deliver on their behalf.

8.3 Other Disclosures

We may also disclose your personal information:

• To comply with a legal obligation or court order;
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of Dog Trainer Index, our users, or the public; or
• In connection with a sale, merger, or restructuring of our business, provided the acquiring party agrees to honour this Privacy Policy.

8.4 No Sale of Personal Information

Dog Trainer Index will not sell your personal information to any third party.

8.5 Overseas Disclosure

Dog Trainer Index operates primarily in New Zealand. If we use cloud hosting, analytics, or email service providers whose servers are located outside New Zealand, we take reasonable steps to ensure those parties provide comparable privacy safeguards to those required by the Privacy Act 2020, in accordance with IPP 12.

Storing and Protecting Your Information (IPP 5 & IPP 9)

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These steps include:

• Secure storage of data using industry-standard security practices;
• Restricting access to personal information to authorised personnel only;
• Using encrypted transmission where practicable; and
• Regular review of our security practices.

No system is completely secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. In the event of a notifiable privacy breach under Part 6 of the Privacy Act 2020, we will notify affected individuals and the Privacy Commissioner as required by law.

Retention of Your Information

We retain your personal information for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required or permitted by law. In particular:

• Lead information will be retained to allow ongoing marketing communications where you have consented;
• Where you have unsubscribed or withdrawn consent, we will cease using your information for marketing purposes promptly and in any event within 5 working days;
• We may retain a record of your unsubscribe request to ensure we do not contact you again; and
• We will delete or de-identify your information when it is no longer required.

You may request deletion of your personal information at any time by contacting us at privacy@dogtrainerindex.co.nz. We will consider all deletion requests in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020.

Your Rights — Accessing and Correcting Your Information (IPP 6 & IPP 7)

Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you;
• Request correction of any personal information that is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading;
• Be informed of the reasons if we decline to provide access or make a correction; and
• Complain to the Privacy Commissioner if you believe we have breached the Privacy Act 2020.

To exercise these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer:

• Email: privacy@dogtrainerindex.co.nz
• Website: www.dogtrainerindex.co.nz

We will respond to access requests within 20 working days as required by the Privacy Act 2020. We may ask you to verify your identity before processing your request.

Marketing Communications and Consent (UEMA Compliance)

We comply with the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007 (UEMA) in relation to all email marketing. This means:

• We will only send marketing emails where we have your express consent;
• Every marketing email will clearly identify Dog Trainer Index or the relevant Service Provider as the sender;
• Every marketing email will include a functioning unsubscribe link;
• We will not send marketing emails to addresses obtained by automated harvesting; and
• We will process unsubscribe requests within 5 working days.

You may withdraw your consent to receive Marketing Communications at any time. This will not affect the lawfulness of any communications sent before your withdrawal.

Cookies

Our Platform uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience, understand how you use the Platform, and deliver relevant advertising. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. A full Cookie Policy is available on the Platform.

Children’s Privacy

Our Platform is not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted information to us, please contact us at privacy@dogtrainerindex.co.nz so we can promptly delete it.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date and publish the revised policy on the Platform. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Complaints

If you have a concern or complaint about how we have handled your personal information, please contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@dogtrainerindex.co.nz in the first instance. We will investigate your complaint and respond within 20 working days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to complain to the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner:

• Website: www.privacy.org.nz
• Phone: 0800 803 909
• Post: Office of the Privacy Commissioner, PO Box 10094, Wellington 6143

Contact Our Privacy Officer

This Privacy Policy was last updated on 18 April 2025 and reflects our obligations under the Privacy Act 2020 (New Zealand), the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007, and the Fair Trading Act 1986.